Anyone heard of that happening?

I installed my SLP Catted X-pipe about 4 weeks ago... after doing so I noticed a horrible exhaust leak on the passenger side... you could hear it (especially at low RPMs) coming from right under the passenger's feet) as well as smelling exhaust at idle.

I found out shortly thereafter that the gasket thingy provided by SLP was supposed to be used on the Passenger side and I hadn't. Apparently the stock gasket generally comes off with the stock midpipe and most people forget the new one (which is the group I fell into). After 3 weeks I finally had the opportunity to get under my car last weekend (been miserable in Jersey lately). Upon pulling the pipe the stock gasket hit me in the head so it had been there all along... I figured what the heck and put the new SLP one in anyhow... after some kicking, screaming and cussing everything was back in order and raised up a few inches so I'd stop hitting speed bumps (all that trig in high school came in handy, yeah... right!)... While this improved the problem, there was still a noticeable leak.

Well this last weekend we got hit with 15" of snow so I didn't drive my car for 3 days. Went out yesterday and started it for a bit just to get the oil moving again. When I drove to work today I noticed it was considerably quieter inside my car. In going to lunch I noticed the leak is gone completely, even at very low RPMs... no noise, no smell... car is lot quieter inside and sounds a hell of a lot better at all throttles... it seems as if letting the car sit in cold temps for a few days worked out the problem.

Anyone else heard of this happening... is the leak gonna come back or can I just leave it be? If it will come back what do I do to stop it... I like my car the way it is now... help me, thanks!

 

Are you sure its a leak as when I put on my catted xpipe exhaust was way louder than before including in the inside of car check out my video from the interior http://www.mustangtuningforums.com/showthread.php?t=702 . Its normal for new exhaust parts to smell eventually it goes away.

 

It was fairly loud and you could hear sound/noise coming from under the passengers feet... I guess I always interpretted it as a leak... how can I be "sure"?

 

a leak could make a clicking noise or that really loud crackling noise when you let of the throttle. thats what i think i leak would sound like

 

Im not sure how to check for a leak but I guess you could try to get as close as you can and try and listen to where you think its leaking have someone rev engine. With my xpipe with cats you can feel the exhaust by your feet,feels like muffler is under my feet. I think its just the exhuast resonating throughout the whole system remember you just amplified you exhaust note.

 

To find a leak, park the car right next to a building or get a pice of ply wood and stand it up next to the car. Then, start the car. If you have a leak, it will be know right a way. The flat object will bounce the sound right back to you and you can hear it.

You can also get a long piece of pipe say about 2 - 3 feet long. Put your ear up to the pipe and then put the other end where you suspect you have a leak. That works for finding other noises as well such as a bad bearing.

 

another way to tell is if you have had the leak for a few. you can also notice it by the build up of black carbon build up on the pipe or where ever it is leakeing from.

 

To find exhaust leaks,throw a smoke bomb into the exhaust pipe.Then stuff rags into the ends.The smoke will show itself at the leak.

 

Or, tape off the tail pipe and submerge the car in a water.

 

If you do the last two suggestions take video I would love to see that. :munky2:

 

That was something I was told to clean off when I went back in to try to fix the apparent leak but there was none there... beginning to think it was all just in my head... thanks guys